Wednesday, July 6, 2011

How Useful is the Internet in Researching Trucking Companies?

By Ralph Watson


There are several concerns to think about when looking for a new trucking job opportunity. Whether or not you are a brand new or seasoned driver, issues that include how much a company pays, the amount of miles that truckers get, condition of the trucks, and the availablility of home time are some of the issues that should be addressed when viewing a new trucking company. But where can you uncover solid information? There is certainly a considerable amount of information available on the internet. This blog will look at the internet as a source of information.

Truck Driving Forums

There are lots of trucking forums which have poped up on the web. For a majority of these forums, all that is required is a username, password, and an email to get started posting on the forum. Many of these discussions come from well-meaning truck drivers who want to vent in regards to conditions connected with a specific company. But the problem with forums is that you never actually know who may be writing the post. As with every position, the attitude of the truck driver is the greatest determiner of success or failure. We have all chatted with drivers who do not have anything constructive to say about the company which they work for. But often, whenever the trucker has troubles with every company who they work for, the problem might not be the trucking company. On the flip side, if a poster on a forum has only flattering remarks, it is difficult to determine if that person may be a recruiter or perhaps is somehow associated with the trucking company. Without knowing the history of the individual who is posting, it is tough to make an educated conclusion about the quality of the information.

Trucker Blogs

Trucking blogs are increasingly commonplace on the web. There are good ones out there. Modern technology makes it practical for today's truck driver to share their thoughts. In these modern times, drivers can keep a laptop with them in the truck and write about their experiences on the road while they are at a truck stop or on the side of the road. But again, if you're thinking of picking a new company to work for it is tough to know if the material on a blog is accurate. Even a blogger with ethics may find it difficult to be objective when talking about a company that is paying them an advertising fee or commission. It is very important to follow a blog for awhile before taking any of the advice provided. Read a number of posts and determine whether it appears as if the blogger is impartial. Post comments to see if your questions are answered with valid information. Most reliable blog writers tend to be "approachable" through the comment area and will be delighted to respond to a question. As you start to get a connection with the people that run these internet sites, you can acquire a feel for the quality of information offered. While online marketing is getting bigger by the day that can be a source of income, there are conscientious bloggers who appreciate that if they submit good helpful posts while focusing on being useful to their visitors, traffic and income will take care of itself. Be sure that the owner of the site is focused on genuinely helping truckers and improving the industry as a whole and is not just in it entirely to generate money.

The internet can be a helpful place to find information on truck drivers wanted positions. But with the abundance of information available on the internet it can be difficult to recognize which data is the most legitimate. Doing your homework not only on the companies, but also on your sources of information is important. In an upcoming article, we will take a look at other tried and true techniques for doing investigation on a new company.




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